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HISTORY OF FORT DODGE AND
WEBSTER COUNTY IOWA
VOLUME II
VORE
CHICAGO THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY 1913
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 634776 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN POUNDATIONS. R 1913 L
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
BIOGRAPHICAL
JOHN F. DUNCOMBE.
John F. Duncombe, deceased, who was a prominent attorney-at- law in Fort Dodge, Iowa, was born in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1831. Under the parental roof he spent his boyhood days and in his native town acquired his early education, which was supplemented by study in Allegheny College of Meadville, Pennsyl- vania, and in the Center College at Danville, Kentucky. He was graduated from both of these institutions before taking up the study of law in his native town in the office of Marshall & Vincent. He was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania and for one year engaged in the practice of his profession there. In April, 1855, he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and began the practice of law in this city. He made for himself a creditable place in the ranks of the legal fra- ternity and was widely known for the care with which he prepared his cases. In no instance was his reading ever confined to the limita- tions of the questions at issue; it compassed every contingency and provided not alone for the expected but as well for the unexpected, which happens in the courts quite as frequently as out of them. His logical grasp of the facts and principles of the law applicable to them has been another potent element in his success, and his remark- able clearness of expression and precise diction were counted among his conspicuous gifts and accomplishments. For thirty-seven years he acted as attorney for the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad and he served in the same capacity for the Mason City & Fort Dodge, the Des Moines & Fort Dodge and the Cherokee & Dakota Railroads. He practiced in twenty-five counties in the state. In political and public life Mr. Duncombe was equally prominent. In 1857, when the news of the Spirit Lake massacre reached Fort Dodge, he took an active part in raising the troops which were sent against the Indians, and he acted as captain of Company B. In 1859 he was elected to the state senate from the senatorial district which was then composed of one-fourth of the entire state. He also was a member of the lower house for two terms and attended four
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
general and three special sessions. In 1872 he served as chairman of the Iowa delegation to the national democratic convention at Balti- more. For, sixteen years he served as regent of the State University and he was appointed by Governor Geer to serve on the capital com- mission but this honor he declined. Because of his public energy and liberality his name is identified with most of the institutions of Fort Dodge. The Duncombe Hotel stands in proof of his public spirit and it is an acknowledged fact that his individual efforts and support were employed in all enterprises persuading railroad com- panies to extend their lines into Fort Dodge. In conjunction with C. B. Richards he developed the coal mines at this place and at Boone, and he served as secretary for both the Fort Dodge Coal Company and the Rocky Ford Coal Company of Wyoming Territory.
On May 11, 1859, Mr. Duncombe was married to Miss Mary A. Williams, a daughter of Major William Williams, the patriot-pioneer of Fort Dodge. To this union seven children were born, including the following : William E .; Charles F., publisher of the Chronicle and former mayor of Fort Dodge; Mary J., wife of Senator W. S. Kenyon; Gertrude; and John A. In politics Mr. Duncombe was an inflexible democrat, stanchly supporting the policies and activities of that party. His influence was always used along the lines of . reform and progress. He was a charter member of the chapter and commandery of the Masonic fraternity of this city and also attained the thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite. Mrs. Duncombe is president of the Webster County Historical Society, an office which she is well qualified to hold, as she has been a resident of this city since her arrival here in 1855. At present she is living at the old home, Fair Oaks. Mr. Duncombe's death occurred August 2, 1902. His interest in community affairs was that of a public-spirited citizen who recognized the opportunities for reform, progress and improve- ment, and he labored to achieve what could be attained in that direction.
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Charles Larrabee, a leading and respected resident of Fort Dodge. living at No. 1222 Sixth avenue, South, is a well known factor in financial circles as the vice president and a director of the Iowa Savings Bank and is also prominent in agricultural circles as a far- mer and breeder of thoroughbred cattle. His birth occurred in Cler-
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
mont, Iowa, on the 13th of June, 1862, his parents being Hon. Wil- liam and Ann M. (Appelman) Larrabee. A sketch of the father appears on another page of this work. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Adam Larrabee, while his maternal grandparents were Gustavus Adolphus and Prudence Ann (Williams) Appelman.
Charles Larrabee was reared in the city of his nativity and ob- tained his early education in the public schools, continuing his studies in the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames. Assisting in the work of his father's farm, he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and in the pursuit of farming and stock-raising he has found both pride and pleasure. After putting aside his text-books he went to Kossuth county, lowa, to look after his father's landed interests there, and for a period of seven years resided at Armstrong in Emmet county, just over the Kossuth county line. Subsequently he came to Fort Dodge and, in association with E. J. Breen and others, organized the lowa Savings Bank with a capitalization of fifty thousand dollars. In the capacity of vice president he has since contributed in large measure to the growth . and success of the institution. He is also connected with the Corn Belt Packing Company, the E. H. Williams Lumber Company and the Lehigh Sewer Pipe & Tile Company. The pursuits of farming and stock-raising, however, have claimed the major portion of his time and attention. He and his brother, Senator Frederic Lar- rabee, are breeders of the Brown Swiss and Hereford cattle. In 1881. at the Iowa State Fair, he exhibited for his father the first herd of Brown Swiss cattle ever shown at that fair and received a silver medal. He owns farms in Kossuth and Lyon counties, and the cattle farm which he owns in association with his brother com- prises four hundred acres and lies just south of the corporate limits of Fort Dodge. His interests are varied and important and in their successful control he has won a creditable measure of pros- perity and an enviable reputation for integrity and straight- forward dealing.
On the 8th of May, 1901, Mr. Larrabee was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Winston Osborn, a native of Rippey, Iowa, and a daughter of Benjamin F. and Mittic (Shelton) Osborn, who were born in Indiana and Virginia respectively. Her parents became early settlers of Greene county, Iowa, and are still residents of Rippey, where Mr. Osborn has been engaged in the drug business since 1878. He was connected with the board of regents at Iowa City and also with the board of trustees of the lowa State Teachers' College at
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Cedar Falls for a number of years. He has three children, William S., Wayne M. and Charlotte Winston Larrabee. The last named is the mother of three children, namely: Charles, Jr., Frederic Osborn and Anne.
Charles Larrabee is a stanch republican and has been a member of the Fort Dodge city council for one term. While still a resident of his native city he served as a member of the Clermont school board. His wife belongs to the Episcopal church. As a business man Mr. Larrabee has been conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his fairness and honorable methods. In everything he has been eminently practical, and this has been mani- fest not only in his business undertakings but in his agricultural, social and private life.
O. J. WOODARD.
(). J. Woodard is cashier, general manager and a director of the First National Bank of Lehigh, Iowa, of which city he has been a resident since 1910. He is a son of John and Ella (Irish) Woodard, the former a native of Maine, his, birth having occurred in 1820, and the latter a native of Vermont. The father was reared at Fox- croft, Maine, where he learned the trades of carpenter and mill- wright. In 1852 he went to California, making the journey by way of Cape Horn, and after reaching the Golden state was for some time interested in mining. He then removed to Minnesota in the early 'Gos, where he remained until 1871, at which time he located on a farm of two hundred and sixteen acres in Burnside township, Web- ster county, Iowa. At the time of the discovery of gold in Dead- wood, South Dakota, he, in company with three men from Fort Dodge, went to that gold camp, where he remained for some time and then returned to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he continued to live until 1884. He then removed with his family to his farm in Burnside township and there died in 1888. He was a member of the Con- gregational church. He was united in marriage to Miss Ella Irish in Minnesota. At an early age she removed with her parents from Vermont and settled in Wisconsin. Later the family took up their abode in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard were the parents of four children: Belle, the wife of W. A. Van Winkle, living at Dayton, Iowa; Fern, who also resides in Dayton: Beatrice, who mar-
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
ried O. L. Smith, of Quincy, Michigan; and O. J., the subject of this sketch. The mother of this family is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and now resides with her eldest daughter in Dayton.
O. J. Woodard was reared at home and received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Fort Dodge and later pursued a course in the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa. After completing his education he was engaged in farming from 1893 to January, 1907. His father died when the subject of this review was a youth of thir- teen years and for nineteen years following his father's death he had charge of the home farm, a position which he filled during his college days. He was also subsequently deputy treasurer of Webster county, serving under Mr. Hadley, who was the treasurer. He later filled the position of cashier of the State Savings Bank at Yetter, Iowa, and as such continued for fifteen months. On January 1, 1910, he removed to Lehigh and there accepted the position as cashier and general manager of the First National Bank of that city, also serving on the board of directors, and has since devoted his attention to the interests of the bank. Besides his interest in the bank he is engaged in stock-raising, specializing in pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle. The undertaking is conducted on a rented farm, four miles from Lehigh in Burnside township, and our subject is the manager.
Mr. Woodard was united in marriage to Miss Nora B. Tennant, a native of Burnside township and a daughter of J. W. and Jane Tennant, both of whom are residents of Burnside. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard two children have been born, Irene and Sibyl, both attend- ing public school. Mr. Woodard belongs to the republican party and has fraternal relations with the Masonic lodge at Lehighi, of which he is senior warden. He is one of the progressive and representative men of Webster county and a man who by strict integrity in business matters has won the confidence and esteem of all his friends and associates.
FRANK ERNEST PRUSI.A.
A history of commercial development and progress in Fort Dodge would be incomplete were there failure to make reference to the Prusia Hardware Company, which was established in 1855 and of which Frank Ernest Prusia is the secretary. This is one of the oldest business enterprises of the city and at its head are men-father and
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
son-who figure prominently and honorably as factors in the pros- perity of the city. Frank E. Prusia was born in Fort Dodge, April 9, 1871, his parents being Emanuel and Mary (Colwell) Prusia, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Maine. The paternal grandfather became one of the pioneers of Michigan and during the gold excitement in California he went to the Pacific coast. He died in middle life, while his wife, Mrs. Mary Prusia, passed away later. After losing her first husband she became the wife of George Klinedob. The only son of her first marriage is Emanuel E. Prusia, who was reared in Michigan and, when fourteen years old, came to Iowa: For some time he was employed in the postoffice in Des Moines and he afterward became an early settler of Fort Dodge, where in 1855 he established the hardware business that is now one of the chief commercial enterprises of the city. He conducted this store under the name of the Prusia Hardware Company, of which he is still the president. The firm was incorporated in 1891, and their salesroom was originally located west of the Duncombe Hotel but for many years has been at No. 608 Central avenue. Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Fort Dodge who occupies a more prominent position in commercial and financial circles than does Emanuel E. Prusia, not only by reason of the success that he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policies that he has ever followed. He wedded Mary Colwell, a daughter of Charles and Delia Colwell, who were natives of Maine. Her father was a farmer by occupation and became one of the early settlers of Douglas town- ship, Webster county. Iowa, where he died when well advanced in years. His wife passed away in Fort Dodge. They had a large family including George, Mary, Charles, Frank, Damie, Jerome, Fred and Sarah. Their daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Emanuel E. Prusia, passed away in 1886, at the age of forty-one years. She was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Prusia also belongs. Emanuel E. Prusia has membership relations with the Odd Fellows society. In his fam- ily were three children, but Frank E. is the only one living. The second son, Leon, died at the age of fifteen years and Earle died in infancy.
Frank Ernest Prusia was reared in Fort Dodge and attended the public schools, while later he pursued a course of studies in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. Throughout his entire business career he has been connected with his father's establishment, first as a clerk in the store, while later he was admitted to a partnership.
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
The following year he became secretary of the company, which was incorporated to conduct a business that had grown from a small beginning to extensive proportions. Their trade is large and the success of the institution is due to the progressive, modern methods of the owners. They handle all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, furnaces and tinware and have a business that has grown year by year and is now extensive.
On the 30th of October. 1895, Frank E. Prusia was married to Miss Sadie Thompson, a daughter of Jolin Thompson. She was born in Watsonville, California, and it was there that she was mar- ried. Her parents were natives of Ireland and died in Watsonville. They had eleven children who reached adult age, Julia, Peter, Lizzie, Joseplı, John, Edward, Maggie, Chris, Mary, Katie and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Prusia hold membership in the Sacred Heart Catholic church. They are well known in Fort Dodge, where they have long resided, and their many friends include the best residents of the city, indi- cating that their social and other qualities are such as win them high regard and popularity.
WILLIAM R. TURNER, M. D.
One of the most promising young physicians in Badger, Iowa, is Dr. William R. Turner, who since 1909 has been connected with the general practice of medicine in that community and has met with gratifying success. He was born in Des Moines on September 3, 1884, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Allen) Turner, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Des Moines. His father came to America when he was ten years of age, making the journey with his parents. He had talent for invention and great mechanical dex- terity. The Jewett typewriter and a machine for making barbed wire are among the products of his labors. He followed the trade of a machinist and draftsman for a number of years and is now living retired in Des Moines, having reached the age of fifty-four years. His wife is fifty-three years of age.
William R. Turner was reared at home and was educated in the public schools of Des Moines. Subsequent to completing the usual course of studies he entered his father's machine shop and following a few years of activity there he enrolled in Drake University. After
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
some preparatory work in that institution he took up the study of medicine, graduating with the degree of M. D. in 1908. In the following year he came to Badger and commenced the general prac- tice of medicine. He is the only doctor in the village and has built up during the three years of his residence here a reputation as a skillful, efficient and thoroughly capable physician. He is progressive and enterprising but never radical, a close and earnest student, and a practical doctor whose work up to the present time is a strong indication of greater success in the future.
In July, 1906. Dr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Jessie E. Grigsby, a daughter of Luther and Annette (Sutton) Grigsby, the former a native of Kansas and the latter of Des Moines. Dr. and Mrs. Turner had one child, Jessie E., who died in November, 1907.
The subject of this review is prominent in many capacities. He owns his office and residence on the main street of the town and serves as health officer, doing able and efficient work in that position. He is a member of the Webster County and the State Medical Socie- ties and is also active in the affairs of the Improved Order of Red- men. He is a democrat and belongs to the English Lutheran church. He has mastered his profession in all its details and keeps in touch with the progress made in medical science by constant reading. He adds to his scientific knowledge the qualities of integrity and con- scientionsness and is therefore well liked and prosperous.
M. N. COREY.
M. N. Corey, who is owner and manager of the Morning Star Mill at Lehigh, was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, March 22, 1880. His father. H. . \. Corey, was a native of Illinois, and later removed to Fort Dodge, where he was engaged in mining, and in 1882 he came to Lehigh, where he operated a coal mine for several years. About 1891 he engaged in the dry-goods and shoe business in this city and in the fall of 1900 built the Morning Star Mill, which he owned and operated until 1908, when M. N. Corey, our subject, became the owner. He was also interested in the Corey Pressed Brick Plant. together with his brothers. Frank, Silas and George Corey, being connected with that plant for about three years. At the time of his death he was engaged in the mercantile business. He also erected the store building which is occupied by Craft & Son. At Fort
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
Dodge, Iowa, Mr. Corey was married to Miss Cora E. Deering, a native of Illinois, and to this union was born one son, M. N., of this review. H. A. Corey passed away in May, 1908, at his home in Lehigh, Iowa, and his wife now resides at Long Beach, Cali- fornia.
M. N. Corey attended the public schools of Lehigh and later was a student at Drake University in Des Moines. Ever since the starting of the mill at Lehigh he has been associated with the work of the same and in May, 1908, purchased the plant and has since operated it. He has made many improvements on the same and now has a private electrical plant, which supplies both his mill and residence. He keeps the plant running steadily as a custom-exchange mill and the output is sold mostly in the neighboring districts. Mr. Corey is carrying on an extensive business and does general milling. He also owns a beautiful home here, which he erected in 1909.
Mr. Corey married Miss Mildred Dugger, who is the daughter of T. T. Dugger. To Mr. and Mrs. Corey has been born a son, Thomas Henry. In his political views Mr. Corey is a republican, and fra- ternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, be- longing to that lodge at Lehigh. He is a man of marked enterprise, positive character and strict integrity, and he has ever been greatly interested in the growth and prosperity of his community. His life is exemplary in many respects and he has the esteem of all his friends and the confidence of those who have had business relations with him.
FREDERICK RUEBEL.
Frederick Rnebel is a retired farmer of Webster county, where for forty years he cultivated two hundred and forty acres of land, meet- ing with well deserved success in his agricultural activities. He is also a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Ruebel was born in New York on April 1, 1838, and is a son of Phillip and Margaret (Schopfer) Ruebel, natives of Germany. His father came to America at an early date and located in New York, where he worked at his trade of shoemaking for several years. Eventually, however, he took up farming, following this occupation for some time in New York, be- fore he removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Ifere he worked at his trade for some time, coming in 1876, to Calhoun county, Iowa, where he purchased and improved a one hundred and sixty-acre
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
tract of land, which he operated until 1885, when he retired from active life and moved to Manson, this state, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in April, 1893. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1860.
Frederick Ruebel was reared at home and was educated in the public schools of New York. After he laid aside his books he worked for a short time by the month as a farm laborer, being thus en- gaged at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He then en- listed in Company K, Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, in March, 1864, and served for one year, receiving his honorable discharge at the close of hostilities. He was mustered out in August, 1865, and returned immediately to New York, where after a short time dur- ing which he worked as a laborer, he rented land and operated it for two years. At the expiration of that time he went to Humboldt, Iowa, but after one year's residence in this city moved to Webster county, settling in this section in April, 1869. Here he purchased eighty acres of land in Johnson township and began its improvement and cultivation. He was successful in his undertaking owing to his familiarity with and experience in agricultural details, which he had gained as farm hand. He added to his holdings from time to time and his farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres of fertile and productive land. He gave his attention to its operation until the spring of 1909, when he retired from active life and moved to Barnum, where he purchased a comfortable and attractive home, in which he has resided since that time.
On January 1, 1867, Mr. Ruebel was united in marriage to Miss Adaline Miller, a daughter of Michael and Adaline Miller, natives of Germany. Mrs. Ruebel's father came to America at an early date and located in New York, where he followed farming until his death which occurred in 1877. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruebel have been born two chil- dren : William F., who is a well known farmer of Johnson town- ship: and Arthur P., manager of the Farmers Elevator Company of Barnum.
In his political views Mr. Ruebel is a consistent republican and is intelligently interested in public affairs. He belongs to the German Lutheran church. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Com- pany and in the Barnum Telephone Company and has served for seventeen years as treasurer of Johnson township. He has held the office of trustee and is at the present time a member of the town
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HISTORY OF WEBSTER COUNTY
council, making his retired life as vital a force in local progress and growth, as his years actively spent in agricultural life.
JAMES D. LOWRY, M. D.
Dr. James D. Lowry, a well known physician and surgeon of Fort Dodge, has here followed his profession for the past eleven years and has enjoyed a steadily growing and gratifying practice. He was born in this city and is a son of Edward and Ellen (Breen) Lowry, natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. His paternal grand- parents, John and Catharine (Dunn) Lowry, died on the Emerald isle when well advanced in years. Their children were, Thomas, Christopher, James, Joseph, Edward, Elizabeth, Catharine and Mary.
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